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Jacksonville is at once a bustling modern city with glass skyscrapers and a world-class performing arts scene and a charming southern town with a laid-back riverfront. While this large city can seem daunting to travelers at first, many fall in love with Jacksonville's bright downtown lights and calm pedestrian neighborhoods like San Marco after a few days. Best of all, this northern Florida city has exceptional weather, especially in the cooler winter months between December and March.

A Cool Winter

Especially for travelers from colder northern cities, Jacksonville's winter temperatures are remarkably pleasant. In December, the average temperature dips to a mild 56 degrees Fahrenheit. The average drops slightly in January to 54 degrees and then begins to climb in February and March to 57 and 62 degrees respectively. While temperatures are slightly lower than those in southern Florida destinations like Miami, the climate is still almost tropical, with mild winters and little variation during the day.

Highs and Lows

Even in Florida, the mercury can sometimes dip below freezing in the winter months. Fortunately for travelers looking for Florida sunshine, freezing days are rare in Jacksonville. On average, only four days in December see temperatures below 32 degrees. In January, about six days see freezing temperatures and rising temperatures in February leave only about three freezing days. You'd be extremely unlucky to visit Jacksonville on the average one day of freezing temperature in March. For the heat-averse, on average, Jacksonville sees no days above 90 degrees Fahrenheit between December and March.

Typical Weather

Jacksonville, Florida in

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The temperature in Jacksonville, Florida in February tends to be very predictable, so you can generally count on the forecast and travel light.

The temperature in Jacksonville, Florida in February is somewhat unpredictable, so be on the safe side and prepare for a variety of conditions.

The temperature in Jacksonville, Florida in February is highly unpredictable, so use the forecast as a guide, but be ready for anything!

Staying Out of the Rain

Florida is always humid and riverside Jacksonville is no exception. On the bright side, the winter months are also the dry season in Florida, when humidity rates drop slightly and the months see fewer rainy days. On average, the months between December and March see about eight rainy days per month, about half of the 15 rainy days seen in wet season months like August. Lower humidity can also make the rare hot day more manageable in Jacksonville's winter.

Getting Ready for the Season

Mild temperatures and fewer rainy days make the winter months Florida's high tourist season. Jacksonville isn't as much of a tourist magnet as cities like Orlando, but you should expect larger tourist crowds and a good number of "snowbirds" -- Florida's name for northerners who spend their winters in the state -- from December to February. Accordingly, you may want to make advanced reservations for hotels and some tourist activities and should expect slightly higher prices. When packing, remember that some days can be cold and bring a good jacket and long pants in addition to clothing for warmer days. Whenever you travel to Florida, an umbrella is always a good idea.

References

About the Author

Edward Mercer began writing professionally in 2009, contributing to several online publications on topics including travel, technology, finance and food. He received his Bachelor of Arts in literature from Yale University in 2006.

Leaf Group is a USA TODAY content partner providing general travel information. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.

Choose Citation Style

Mercer, Edward. "The Average Temperature December Through March in Jacksonville, Florida." Travel Tips - USA Today, http://traveltips.usatoday.com/average-temperature-december-through-march-jacksonville-florida-110036.html. Accessed 21 February 2018.

Mercer, Edward. (n.d.). The Average Temperature December Through March in Jacksonville, Florida. Travel Tips - USA Today. Retrieved from http://traveltips.usatoday.com/average-temperature-december-through-march-jacksonville-florida-110036.html

Mercer, Edward. "The Average Temperature December Through March in Jacksonville, Florida" accessed February 21, 2018. http://traveltips.usatoday.com/average-temperature-december-through-march-jacksonville-florida-110036.html

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